BYLAWS
OF
SPRING CREEK MAINTENANCE CORPORATION
ARTICLE I
NAME AND LOCATION
The name of the corporation is Spring Creek Maintenance Corporation, hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”.
The principal office the Corporation shall be located at the residence of the acting President of the Corporation, but meetings of members and directors may be held at such places within the State of Delaware, County of New Castle, as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
The name and address of the Corporation’s registered agent in the State of Delaware is as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE SEAL
The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the year of its incorporation.
ARTICLE III
MEETING OF MEMBERS
Section 1 . First Meeting of the Members. The first meeting of the members shall be called by the initial Board of Directors and shall be for the purpose of nominating a Board of Directors consisting of homeowners of the Spring Creek subdivision. The initial Board of Directors shall send each homeowner notice of the meeting at least thirty (30) days before the meeting. The notice shall specify the place, day, and hour of the meeting and shall state that the purpose of the meeting is to nominate a new Board of Directors. The notice shall list each office and describe the duties associated with such office. Nominations shall be accepted by proxy received by the initial Board of Directors prior to the end of the first meeting. In addition to nominations received by proxy, nominations may be made at the meeting. A list of nominations, including the offices that the nominee is interested, shall be prepared by the initial Board of Directors. Within ten (10) business days of the first meeting, the initial Board of Directors shall notice a second meeting for the purpose of electing a Board of Directors. The minutes of the first meeting, the list of nominees, and notice of the second meeting, including the place, day, and hour of the second meeting, shall be mailed, postage prepaid envelope, to each member entitled to vote at such meeting. The second meeting shall be held within twenty (20) business days from the date noticing such meeting.
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The initial Board of Directors shall oversee the election and shall remain in office until another Board is duly elected. Elections shall be by ballot, by plurality vote. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the governing documents, quorum requirements for nomination and election of the first Board of Directors consisting of homeowners shall be duly satisfied if the meetings are properly noticed in conformance with this section.
Section 2 . Annual meetings. After the Board of Directors comprised of homeowners is elected, each subsequent regular annual meeting of the members shall be held on the same day of the same month of each year following the first election ballot, by plurality vote, a Board of Directors and may transact such other business as may come for the meeting. If the day for the annual meeting of the members is a legal holiday, the meeting will be held on the first day following which is not a legal holiday.
Section 3 . Special meetings. Special meetings of the members may be called at any time by the President and must be called on the request, in writing or by the vote of the majority, of the Directors, or, after the first meeting of the members of the Corporation, at the request in writing of five (5) or more members of the Corporation.
Section 4 . Notice of meetings. Except as otherwise noted herein, written notice of each meeting of the members shall be given by, or at the direction of, the secretary or person authorized to call the meeting, by mailing a copy of the notice, postage prepaid, at least fifteen (15) days before the meeting to each member entitled to vote at the meeting, addressed to the member’s address last appearing on the books of the corporation for the purpose of notice. The notice shall specify the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the Directors, as fixed by the Bylaws, shall be made within ten (10) days next before the day on which such election if to be held. In case of any change in such time or place for such election of Directors, notice thereof shall be given to each member entitled to vote in person, or mailed to his or her last know post office address, at least ten (10) days before the election is held.
Section 5 . List of members. A complete list of members entitled to vote, arranged in alphabetical order, shall be prepared by the Secretary and shall be open to the examination of any member at the principal office of the Corporation and the place of election, for ten (10) days prior thereto, and during the whole term of the election.
Section 6 . Proxies. Each member entitled to vote shall, at every meeting of the members, be entitled to vote in person of by proxy, in writing and signed by him or her, but no proxy shall be voted after one (1) years from its date, unless it provides for a longer period. Every proxy shall be revocable and shall automatically cease upon conveyance of the lot. Such right to vote shall be subject to the right of the Board of Directors to close the transfer books or to fix a record date for voting members as hereinafter provided and if the Directors shall not have exercised such right, no vote
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shall be cast at any election for Directors by anyone who shall have accepted membership in the Corporation within ten (10) days of such election. Only one (1) vote
shall be cast with respect to each lot in the Stonefield subdivision. In the event that members who hold title to any lot either by the entireties, or as joint tenants, or as tenants in common, attempt to cast the vote for such lot in conflicting ways, such vote shall be recorded as a fractional vote.
Section 7 . Quorum. The presence at the meeting of members entitled to cast, or of proxies entitled to cast, thirty (30) percent of the total members entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum (counting one member for each lot regardless of the number of persons holding title to such lot) for any action except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Maintenance Declaration, or these Bylaws. If however, a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, the members entitled to vote there shall have the power to adjourn the meeting, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: SELECTION; TERM OF OFFICE
Section 1 . Number. The property and business of the Corporation shall be managed and controlled by its Board of Directors, consisting of two (2) or more Directors, not to exceed seven (7). The initial members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, to consist of two (2) Directors, shall be appointed by the Incorporator of the Corporation and shall serve until successor Directors are elected at the second meeting of the members of the Corporation.
Section 2 . Election. At the second meeting of the Corporation, the members shall elect the Directors for a one year term. The Directors shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are elected and qualify.
Section 3 . Removal. Any director may be removed from the Board, with or without cause by a majority vote of the members of the Corporation. In the event of death, resignation or removal of a Director, a successor shall be selected by the remaining members of the Board, though less than a quorum, by majority vote, and shall serve for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor.
Section 4 . Compensation. No Director shall receive compensation for any service rendered to the Corporation. However, any Director may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties.
Section 5 . Action taken without a meeting. The Directors shall have the right to take any action in the absence of a meeting which they could take at a meeting by obtaining the written approval of all the Directors. Any action so approved shall have the same effect as though taken at a meeting of the Directors.
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ARTICLE V
MEETING OF DIRECTORS
Section 1 . Regular meetings. After each annual election of Directors, the newly elected Directors may meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers, and the transaction of other business, at such place and time as shall be fixed by the members at the annual meeting, and if a majority of the Directors be present at such place and time, no prior notice of such meeting shall be required to be given to the Directors. The place and time of such meeting may also be fixed by written consent of the Directors.
Section 2 . Special meetings. Meetings of the Directors may be called by the President on five (5) days notice in writing or on two (2) days notice by telephone to each Director and shall be called by the President in like manner on the written request of two (2) Directors. A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured.
ARTICLE VI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD
Section 1 . Powers. The Board of Directors shall have the power to:
(a) Adopt and publish rules and regulations governing the use of the common properties and facilities, and the personal conduct of the members and their guests, and to establish penalties for infractions;
(b) Exercise for the Corporation all powers, duties and authority vested in or delegated to this Corporation and not reserved to the membership by other provisions of these Bylaws; the Certificate of Incorporation, or the Maintenance Declaration;
(c) Declare the office of a member of the Board of Directors to be vacant in the event the member shall be absent from three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the Board of Directors; and
(d) Employ a manager, an independent contractor, or other employees as they deem necessary, and to prescribe their duties.
(e) Close the membership rolls of the Corporation for a period not exceeding ten (10) days preceding the date of any meeting of members.
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Section 2 . Duties. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to:
(a) Cause to be kept a complete record of all of its acts and corporate affairs and to present a statement of its acts and corporate affairs to the members at the annual meeting of the members or at any special meeting when the statement is requested in writing by five (5) or more members of the Corporation;
(b) Supervise all officers, agents and employees of this Corporation, and to see that their duties are properly performed;
(c) As more fully provided here, and in the Maintenance Declaration, to:
(1) determine the amount of the annual assessment against each lot for approval by majority vote of Corporation’s members at least thirty (30) days in advance of each annual period; and
(2) send written notice of each assessment to every Owner subject thereto at least thirty (30) days in advance of each annual assessment period.
(d) Issue, upon demand by any person, a certificate setting forth whether or not any assessment has been paid. A reasonable charge, not to exceed five dollars ($5.00), may be made by the Board for issuance of these certificates. If a certificate states an assessment has been paid, such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of such payment;
(e) Procure and maintain adequate liability and hazard insurance on property owned by the Corporation;
(f) Cause all officers, employees or independent contractors having fiscal responsibilities to be bonded, as it may deem appropriate, and
(g) Cause all open space and common facilities to be maintained as required.
ARTICLE VII
COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate such committees as it deems necessary or desirable, each such committee to consist of two (2) or more of the Directors of the Corporation and such member(s) of the Corporation as are designated by the Board in such resolution. Such committees shall meet at states times or on notice to all by any of their own
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number. They shall fix their own rules of procedure. A majority shall constitute a quorum, but the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole committee shall be necessary in every case. Such committees shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors to the extent as provided in such resolution or resolutions.
ARTICLE VIII
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION
The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, one or more Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as may from time to time be chosen by the Board of Directors. The President and Vice-Presidents shall be chosen from among the Directors. The officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify in their stead. Any officer chosen or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed with or without cause at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors. If the office of any officer or officers becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors.
Section 1. Duties of the President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. It shall be his duty to preside at all meetings of the members and Directors; to have general and active management of the business and the Corporation; to see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect; to execute all agreements and other instruments in the name of the Corporation; and to affix the corporate seal thereto when authorized by the Board of Directors.
He shall have the general supervision and direction of the other officers of the Corporation and shall see that their duties are properly performed.
He shall submit a report of the operations of the Corporation for the year to the Directors at their meeting next preceding the annual meeting of the members and to the members at their annual meeting.
He shall be ex-officio a member of all committees and shall have the general duties and powers of supervision and management usually vested in the office of the President of a corporation.
Section 2 . Vice-President. The Vice-President or Vice-Presidents, in the order designated by the Board of Directors, shall be vested with all powers and required to perform all the duties of the President in his absence or disability and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 3 . President Pro Tem. In the absence or disability of the President and the Vice-Presidents, the Board may appoint from their own number a president pro tem.
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Section 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Corporation, the Board of Directors, and any committee meetings. He shall act as clerk thereof and shall record all proceedings of such meetings in a book kept for that purpose. He shall give proper notice of meetings and members and Directors and shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned to him by the President or the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of funds and securities of the Corporation, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board or President, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and Directors, whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer, and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and at the regular meeting of the Board next preceding the annual members’ meeting, a like report for the preceding year.
He shall keep an account of the members of record in such manner and subject to such regulations as the Board of Directors may prescribe.
He shall give the Corporation a bond, if required by the Board of Directors, in the sum and in form and with corporate security satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession, belonging to the Corporation. He shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe or require.
Section 6. Delegation of Duties. In case of the absence or disability of any office of the Corporation or for any other reason deemed sufficient by the majority of the Board, the Board of Directors may delegate his power or duties to any other officer or to any Director for the time being.
ARTICLE IX
ASSESSMENTS
Section 1. Creation of the lien and personal obligation of assessments. By the Declaration, each member is deemed to covenant and agrees to pay to the Corporation:
(a) Annual assessment or charges; and
(b) Special assessment for capital improvements.
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The annual and special assessments, together with interest and costs of collection, as provided below, shall be a charge on the land and shall be a continuing lien upon the property against which each assessment is made. Each assessment together with interest, costs and reasonable attorney’s fees shall also be the personal obligation of the person who was the owner of the property at the time when the assessment fell due and shall not pass to successors in title unless expressly assumed by them.
Section 2 . Purpose of assessments. The assessments levied by the Corporation shall be used for the purpose of maintaining the private open spaced and common facilities in the Stonefield subdivision and all improvements located thereon, including, but not limited to, any storm water management facilities, common landscaping features, and any of the other purposes as set forth in these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or Maintenance Declaration.
Section 3 . Annual assessment. An annual assessment shall be set by a majority vote of the members in good standing who are voting in person or by proxy at the annual meeting.
Section 4. Special assessment for capital improvements. In addition to the annual assessments authorized above, the corporation may levy in any calendar year, a special assessment applicable to that year only, for the purpose of degrading, in whole or in part, the cost of any construction or reconstruction, unexpected repair or replacement of a described capital improvement involving the open space or common facilities. A special assessment, if necessary, shall be set by a majority vote of the members who are voting in person or by proxy at the annual meeting or at a meeting duly called for this purpose.
Section 5 . Uniform rate. Both annual and special assessments must be fixed at a uniform rate for all lots.
Section 6 . Remedies for non-payment of assessments. Any assessments which are not paid when due shall be delinquent. If the assessment is not paid within thirty (30) days after the due date, the assessment shall bear interest from the date of delinquency at the rate of the Delaware legal rate of interest per annum, and the Corporation may bring an action at law against the owner personally obligated to pay the same or foreclose the lien against the property, and interest, costs and reasonable attorney’s fees of such action shall be added to the amount of such assessment. No owner may waive or otherwise escape liability for the assessments provided herein by nonuse of the common area or abandonment of his or her lot.
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ARTICLE X
BOOKS AND RECORDS
The books, records and papers of the Corporation shall at all times, during reasonable business hours, be subject to inspection by any member. The Maintenance Declaration, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Corporation shall be available for inspection by any member at the principal office of the Corporation, where copies may be purchased at reasonable cost not to exceed five dollars ($5.00) for all three (3) documents.
ARTICLE XI
CORPORATION OF PAYMENTS
All checks, drafts or orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the President and the Treasurer or by such officer or officers as the members of the Corporation may approve.
ARTICLE XII
MEMBERS OF RECORD
The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the title holder or holders of record of any lot in Stonefield subdivision as members in fact of the Corporation, and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such lot or memberships on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, save as expressly provided by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE XIII
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January of each year.
ARTICLE XIV
DEFINITIONS
Section 1 . Amendment. These Bylaws may be amended, altered, repealed or added to at any regular meeting of the members or at any special meeting called for that purpose, by affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the members of the Corporation at any time after the first meeting of the members of the Corporation following the election of a Board of Directors comprised of homeowners.
Section 2 . Expanded Duties. By vote of seventy-five (75%) of the members of the Corporation, the Corporation may provide for services in addition to the maintenance of private open space and common facilities. However, adoption of any
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such provision in these Bylaws shall place no duty or obligation on New Castle County to enforce any such additional provision.
ARTICLE XV
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions are applicable hereto:
1. “Corporation” shall mean and refer to the “maintenance corporation”, its successors and assigns, and to the proper-names corporate entity to be formed as provided hereunder.
2. “Lot” shall mean and refer to each lot as shown on the Record Major Subdivision Plan of Stonefield.
3. “Member” shall mean and refer to the record owner of a fee simple title to a lot as shown on the said Plan of Stonefield.
4. “Owner” shall mean and refer to every person or entity that holds membership in the Corporation.
5. “Declarant” shall mean and refer to First State Enterprises, Inc., a corporation of the State of Delaware, its successors and assigns.
6. “ Common Facilities” shall mean and refer to all private open space and “landscape easement” areas designated on the record plan and also any common areas or common amenities that may be depicted on the record plan including, but not limited to, streets, curbs, sidewalks, water mains, sanitary/storm sewers and piping, all storm water management facilities including recharge systems, parks, recreational facilities, fire hydrants, landscaping, parking areas, rights-of-way, easements, monuments and markers, and all improvements now and hereafter located thereon.
ARTICLE XVI
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
All of the terms, conditions, matters and information contained and more fully set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and Maintenance Declaration are incorporated by reference.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we, being all Directors of the Spring Creek Maintenance Corporation, have hereunto set our hands this ___ day of ________________ , 2006.
________________________________
FIRST/LAST NAME
________________________________
FIRST/LAST NAME
________________________________
FIRST/LAST NAME
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CERTIFICATION
I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that I am the duly elected and acting secretary of the Spring Creek Maintenance Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, and that the foregoing Bylaws constitute the original Bylaws of said Corporation, as duly adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors thereof, held on the ___ day of _____month, 2006.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Corporation this ___ day of _____month, 2006.
_______________________________
FIRST/LAST NAME SECRETARY